1. Looks like only a VVIP visit can push BBMP to fix potholes. What else explains the sudden makeover of Mysuru Road ahead of George's visit?

Bangalore Development Minister K J George on Monday launched a 972-crore project to redevelop and rebuild over 30 major road stretches and junctions in the city through the unique 'white-topping method'. According to experts, the roads built with the new technology will be sturdy and long-lasting. The project is taken up under the Chief Minister's Nagarothana Scheme. The minister later inaugurated a white-topping plant near Bangalore University on Mysore Road.
At the function, George said: "The government has taken all measures to develop roads across the city. Incessant downpour has delayed the work. The work will be fastened once the rain stops and the development work will be completed shortly." Talking about the new technology, he said: "While asphalted roads are expected to last five years, white- topped roads can last up to 30 years. These roads need less maintenance. Besides, they are water-resistant as well."

VIP visits: Boon or bane?

When City Development Minister KJ George arrived to launch the 'white-topping' plant near Bangalore University on the busy Mysore Road, the potholes, which were unattended for ages, were filled in a flash. What more, the roads were watered down and swept up to make it spick-and-span. Even the roadside stray plants were plucked out. Elsewhere on Mysore Road, where all the attention currently is, almost at the same time, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah embarked on a visit to the spots where fatal accidents happened recently. Resultantly, the whole road came to a standstill, leaving motorists stranded for at least 30 minutes. All this leads to one important question: Shouldn't all this corrective measures been taken regardless of VVIP visits? That crucial question aside, public says at least those high-profile visits would get things done. Bane or boon?

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2. The day after Mysuru Rd took another life, Siddaramaiah decided to do a spot inspection of the site. Needless to say, motorists bore the brunt again

Waking up to precarious condition of Bengaluru Roads that are taking toll on motorists, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Monday set a deadline of 15 days for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) to fill up the potholes. Embarking on a surprise inspection of IT city’s roads after a motorist was killed due to pothole in Nayandanahalli on Sunday, Siddaramaiah ordered the BBMP commissioner to take up the repair work on Bengaluru’s roads on a war-footing.

Alarmed by the worsening condition of IT city’s roads, the chief minister visited the Mysuru Road near Nayandanahalli on Monday afternoon. He was assisted by Bengaluru Development minister KJ George, BBMP Mayor Sampath Raj, Commissioner N Manjunatha Prasad, Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) R Hithendra and other officials.

Later speaking to media persons Siddaramaiah said, “Bengaluru has received unprecedented rains in the last few weeks. Never ever, the city had received this intense rainfall. Hence, all roads are filled with potholes. It is unfortunate that motorists have died due to potholes and I condole their deaths. I have directed officials to give compensation to their dependents. It is indeed a daunting task for the BBMP to fill up the potholes as rains are lashing the city almost on everyday basis. Even if you asphalt, the filling will not withstand and wear out due to rainfall. We do not have a technology to repair roads even in the midst of heavy rainfall.
However, I have directed BBMP commissioner to fill all the potholes in 15 days.”

This apart, the CM also directed the Managing Director of BMRCL to take up repair of roads wherever the Metro work is in progress.

“We had decided to repair all major roads of Bengaluru with white-topping technology. But non-availability of funds at once is a major hurdle and hence we could not take up the work. However, we have begun the project in phased manner by focussing only major roads in the first phase,” Siddaramaiah said. The city roads have gone for a toss ever since the city started witnessing heavy rainfalls.

CM offers Rs 117-crore for rain-ravaged Bengaluru

After setting a 15-day deadline to fill all the potholes, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah turned his focus on rain-ravaged areas of Bengaluru such as HSR Layout, Koramangala and other adjoining areas. An additional Rs 117-crore grant was made available for various works across the IT city. “We have taken up work on building Storm Water Drains (SWD) spanning 845 km. Of which, the work on 345 km is in full swing. We have decided to give additional Rs 117 crore to build SWDs in HSR Layout, Koramangala, KR Puram and Yeshwanthpur so that these areas will not be flooded again,” the CM said. This apart, Rs 20 crore has been given to purchase robotic excavators to help BBMP to carry out de-silting work of SWDs easily. “Already 3 excavators have been purchased and two more will be procured soon. Besides, every ward will get a grant of Rs 10 lakh to install CCTV cameras to keep tab on anti-social activities,” CM briefed.

The CM has directed BBMP to fill potholes using ‘cold mix’. “According to experts, ‘cold mix’ can withstand rains for three months. Hence I have directed the commissioner to fill all potholes using cold mix. Once the rain stops, the stretches will be asphalted completely using the same technology which will last for a year in rainless conditions,” Siddaramaiah said. “If the potholes are left unattended, the chief engineers concerned will be held responsible. I have directed officers not just to fill potholes but asphalt the entire patch so that the road looks even,” he stressed. Asked whether contractors will be held responsible for poor quality roads, CM said, “Henceforth we will also fix them as responsible for the mess. We will retrieve road history and list out the contractors who have worked on the road. They will be made responsible for the damage caused to roads and they have to repair the roads. In future, such contractors will be blacklisted for poor quality work."

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